Scottish Executive

Ambulance Service

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what level of training is provided to Scottish Ambulance Service voluntary community responders.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Ambulance Service will train volunteers to first aid, lifesaving or Heartstart qualification standards. The service is working towards enabling these first responders to be accredited to the Institute of Health Care Development "first person on scene" level.

Ambulance Service

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what budget is made available to each emergency service for training in emergency procedure operations.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive has allocated over £108 million to the Scottish Ambulance Service this year. This represents a 7.4% increase on last year and reflects the Executive’s support for the service’s modernisation agenda, including the implementation of priority-based dispatch. Part of this allocation will be used to support the training of community first responders. These responders form an integral element of the service’s faster response to emergency calls, in particular in remote and rural communities.

  Police and fire services personnel are trained in first aid so that they may provide assistance in medical emergencies they may come across when carrying out their duties. This will account for a small part of the training budget expended centrally and locally in support of these services.

Ambulance Service

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to provide legal protection in any negligence claims against Scottish Ambulance Service voluntary community responders.

Malcolm Chisholm: All voluntary community responders, like all Scottish Ambulance Service personnel or volunteer ambulance car drivers who attend patients, are covered by the Clinical Negligence and Other Risks Indemnity Scheme which operates throughout NHSScotland.

Ambulance Service

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many permanent posts in the Scottish Ambulance Service have been replaced by voluntary community responders.

Malcolm Chisholm: No permanent posts in the Scottish Ambulance Service have been replaced by voluntary community responders. Indeed, the service’s modernisation programme will result in the biggest recruitment drive in its history, recruiting over 200 new staff in addition to employing voluntary community responders.

Ambulance Service

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many voluntary community responders currently operate within the Scottish Ambulance Service, broken down by NHS board area.

Malcolm Chisholm: Community First Responder schemes are part of the Scottish Ambulance Service’s implementation of priority-based dispatch. All of the service’s divisions are developing these schemes and all are currently engaged in the process of identifying and recruiting suitable candidates. At present, there is one responder scheme in operation – at RAF Leuchars, where the initial pilot scheme proved to be highly successful.

Autism

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-27235 by Malcolm Chisholm on 10 July 2002, what the timetable is for the research into autism being conducted by the Medical Research Council; what input it has into this research, and how it will consult on the research findings.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Medical Research Council (MRC) is currently funding eight research projects on autism at a cost of over £5 million. These projects vary in length with completion dates ranging from September 2002 to May 2005. A steering group has been set up by the MRC to develop its strategy for research on autism and will hold a series of workshops over the next six months. The Department of Health in England and the Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Executive Health Department have observer status on that steering group. MRC also plans an annual forum which will bring together research, policy and consumer interests. Following these meetings, MRC expects to receive good quality research proposals which will be subject to peer review. The MRC anticipates that it will have committed the remaining £2.5 million for research into autism by 2005. MRC expects researchers to publish their results in peer reviewed scientific literature in the normal way.

Bees

Alex Fergusson (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much the Scottish Agricultural Science Agency has claimed back from the European Union for detecting and dealing with varroa mites in honey bees in each of the last five years, expressed also as a percentage of the agency’s budget for varroa mites.

Ross Finnie: The Scottish Agricultural Science Agency do not claim any money back from the European Union for work carried out under the Honey Programme. However, the Scottish Executive claims back under Council Regulation (EC) 1221/97, 50% of all monies spent on varroa work by the Scottish Agricultural Science Agency, the Scottish Agricultural College and the department’s Agricultural Staff Bee Officers. In each of the last five years we have spent:

  
 1998 – Year 1
 £42, 618 

1999 – Year 2

 
£44, 812  2000 – Year 
3  £46, 552
 2001 – Year 4
 £24, 840 
2002 – Year 5  
£38, 132

Central Heating

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications have been made for free central heating installation in each of the 10 Scottish parliamentary constituencies in Central Scotland under its central heating programme; how many of these applications have been approved, and how many installations have been carried out.

Hugh Henry: The information requested is not collected on a constituency basis. However, I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-29435 on 8 October 2002, which provides a breakdown of the number of heating systems installed in the local authority and housing association stock by local authority area and in private sector houses by postcode area. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:   http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Child Welfare

Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the ministerial task force on children’s services or the National Group to Address Domestic Abuse have looked, or will look, into the effect that experiencing domestic abuse has on young people.

Cathy Jamieson: The Cabinet Sub-Committee on Children’s Services will be holding a special meeting later this month, chaired by the First Minister, to discuss child protection, including domestic abuse, in the light of the current multi-disciplinary review, which has been informed by discussion with children and young people. In addition, the Ministers for Education and Young People, for Health and Community Care, and for Social Justice, all participated earlier this month in the launch event for the Listen Louder campaign to highlight the effects of domestic abuse on young people.

  The National Group is considering the effect of domestic abuse on children as part of its remit to implement the National Strategy to Address Domestic Abuse.

Child Welfare

Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what research has been carried out into the prevalence of child sex abuse by teachers and the effect of such abuse on children.

Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive is not aware of any research that focuses specifically on this subject matter. The effect of abuse on children in a wider context has been the focus of numerous pieces of research by various organisations.

Child Welfare

Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any assessment has been made of the risk to children of being abused by teachers.

Cathy Jamieson: It is a mandatory requirement that all teachers employed in local authority schools in Scotland be registered with the General Teaching Council for Scotland, which since 1989 involves a criminal records check undertaken by the Disclosure Bureau. Teachers can be removed from the register at any time if they are convicted of a criminal offence or if they are considered to have been guilty of professional misconduct.

Child Welfare

Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures or guidelines are in place to ensure that victims of abuse in schools are able to report it.

Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive has issued guidance on child protection in schools, Circular 10/90, which requires all education authorities in Scotland, and the Scottish Council for Independent Schools, to have in place arrangements for responding to issues of child abuse in their schools. It also clearly sets out appropriate staff responses if children or young people disclose abuse.

  The Scottish Executive is currently revising Circular 10/90, in line with Protecting Children - A Shared Responsibility, which comprises guidance that has been issued specifically for health professionals and also on inter-agency co-operation. The revision of guidance for schools will take account of the findings of the national review of child protection which is due for publication shortly.

Citizens Advice Bureaux

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its support to Citizens Advice Bureaux (CAB) will take account of the number of volunteers whose training at a CAB enables them to take up paid employment based on their CAB experience.

Iain Gray: Funding for Citizens Advice Bureaux (CAB) is a matter for local authorities who are best placed to decide on the allocation of resources according to the needs of their particular areas. We recognise and welcome the volunteering experience and training that is available through CAB which can lead to improved employment opportunities.

Construction Industry

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to support the development of the Construction Licensing Executive to improve standards in the construction industry.

Iain Gray: The Scottish Executive supports the aims of the Scottish Construction Licensing Executive to provide a framework for self-regulation of companies in the construction industry. We are represented as an observer on the Licensing Executive.

  The Scottish Executive is also facilitating a meeting between the Licensing Executive and the DTI to consider a joint approach between the Scottish Construction Licensing Executive scheme and the DTI’s Quality Mark scheme.

Courts

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-28903 by Mr Jim Wallace on 18 September 2002, whether it has set a revised date for issuing the consultation paper, due to be issued by the end of September, on the delivery of court services in the Peebles area and, if so, what date it has set.

Mr Jim Wallace: I refer the member to the answer given in question S1W-30468 on 10 October 2002. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at   http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search . No revised date for issuing the consultation paper in relation to delivery of court services in the Peebles area has been set.

Dentistry

Mr Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many newly-qualified dentists have taken up posts in each NHS board area in each of the last three years.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: The information requested by the member is currently being collated. Once complete I will write to the member with a full response and place a copy in the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

Dentistry

Mr Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many dentists in each NHS board area continue to carry out NHS work.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: The number of general dental practitioners in each NHS board area who continue to carry out NHS dental treatment is shown in the following table:

  NHS General Dental Practitioners (Principals, Assistants and Vocational Trainees) Who Carry Out NHS Dental Treatment: by NHS Board Area at 30 September 2002

   
NHS Board Area Number 
of Principals Number of 
Assistants Number of Trainees
Total  Argyll 
and Clyde 175
2 6
183  Ayrshire 
and Arran 130
2 1
133  Borders
40 3
5 48
 Dumfries and Galloway
39 1
2 42
 Fife
138 5
9 152
 Forth Valley
96 1
9 106
 Grampian
158 9
8 175
 Greater Glasgow
427 9
15 451
 Highland
84 1
3 88
 Lanarkshire
199 7
13 219
 Lothian
369 3
25 397
 Orkney
7 0
0 7
 Shetland
11 0
0 11
 Tayside
165 8
12 185
 Western Isles
9 0
0 9
 Scotland
2,047 51
108 2,206


  Notes:

  The figures relate to the number of dentists (not the whole-time equivalent, as the working hours of each dentist are not collected).

  General dental practitioners (GDPs) enter into a contract with their local Primary Care Trust (PCT) or Island Health Board (IHB). A GDP may have more than one contract with a PCT/IHB if he/she has more than one practice, or a contract with more than one PCT/IHB if he/she practices in more than one NHS board area; a GDP may therefore be counted more than once.

Education

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the benefits of liberalisation under the General Agreement on Trade in Services have been, or are expected to be, to the education service.

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the education service has suffered, or may suffer, any adverse effects as a result of liberalisation under the General Agreement on Trade in Services.

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-29654 by Cathy Jamieson on 1 October 2002, what effective market access for foreign service providers under the General Agreement on Trade in Services it considers appropriate for the education service.

Cathy Jamieson: The regulation of international trade is a reserved matter.

Employment

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Jobcentre Plus in support of allowing people looking for paid employment to do voluntary work while awaiting the offer of a job from a job centre and ensuring that the job seekers agreement does not militate against an individual doing such work.

Iain Gray: Responsibility for job search and support is reserved to the UK Government. However, I understand that Jobseeker's Allowance regulations currently permit jobseekers to undertake voluntary work. They must continue to actively seek employment and must be willing and able to start work or go for an interview within 48 hours. Voluntary work means work for an organisation whose activities are non-profit-making and where no payment is received by the jobseeker other than reasonable expenses. The Jobseeker's Agreement does not militate against an individual doing such work. It sets out a jobseeker’s availability for work, the kind of work they are looking for and the actions they will take to look for work.

Flooding

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place with the Department for Work and Pensions concerning the provision of assistance to victims of the flooding in the east end of Glasgow.

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to make an announcement concerning its discussions with Her Majesty’s Government in regard to people who were affected by the recent flooding in the east end of Glasgow and were uninsured.

Hugh Henry: The Scottish Executive contacted the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to confirm that the local Social Security Office was fully prepared to provide the appropriate support, including through the Social Fund, to people adversely affected by the flooding in the East End of Glasgow. The Executive has subsequently ascertained that the DWP used the powers available to it to give immediate emergency assistance, through the Social Fund, to eligible victims of the floods, and will continue to do so if applications for help are received in the future.

  The Executive remains in regular contact with the Department of Work and Pensions on this matter, among many others.

Food Safety

Mr Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to reduce instances of food poisoning.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) have advised me that they are committed to reducing food borne illness in Scotland by 20% by 2006.

  The key elements of the FSA strategy to reduce food-borne illness will focus on improved risk management through supporting the implementation of effective Hazard Analysis systems across food businesses and a food hygiene campaign, targeting caterers and consumers, aimed at reducing cross contamination and improving hygiene standards.

  The areas of activity will include reduction of bacterial contamination of foods, improved food safety management and promotion of hygiene in the kitchen both commercial and domestic.

Health

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the benefits of liberalisation under the General Agreement on Trade in Services have been, or are expected to be, to the health service.

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the health service has suffered, or may suffer, any adverse effects as a result of liberalisation under the General Agreement on Trade in Services.

Malcolm Chisholm: The regulation of international trade is a reserved matter. However, the Executive continues to be in regular contact with the Department of Trade and Industry and other UK Departments on trade issues and how these may impact on the Executives responsibilities. The GATS makes it clear that liberalisation shall take place, if at all, with due respect for national policy objectives and recognises the right of WTO member governments to regulate, and to introduce new regulations on the supply of services within their territories to meet national policy objectives.

Health

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-29654 by Cathy Jamieson on 1 October 2002, what effective market access for foreign service providers under the General Agreement on Trade in Services it considers appropriate for the health service.

Malcolm Chisholm: The regulation of international trade is a reserved matter. However, the Executive continues to be in regular contact with the Department of Trade and Industry and other UK Departments on trade issues and how these may impact on the Executives responsibilities. The General Agreement on Trade and Services (GATS) makes it clear that liberalisation shall take place, if at all, with due respect for national policy objectives and recognises the right of World Trade Organisation (WTO) member governments to regulate and to introduce new regulations on the supply of services within their territories to meet national policy objectives.

  The GATS applies to measures affecting trade in services taken by central, regional or local governments and authorities and by non-governmental bodies in the exercise of powers delegated by such governments and authorities.

  Progressive liberalisation under the GATS concerns the reduction or elimination of the adverse effects on trade in services of such measures as a means of providing effective market access for foreign service suppliers. Requests for liberalisation by WTO members do not seek the privatisation of state supplied public services.

Health

Mr Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to assist in efforts to reduce the number of teenage pregnancies.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: The Executive is committed to reducing the number of unwanted teenage pregnancies. On-going initiatives include the Healthy Respect Demonstration Project in Lothian and the provision of funding for four new Caledonia Youth Centres. Further initiatives are likely to be considered in the context of the Executive’s Sexual Health Strategy, currently being developed.

Health and Safety

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any guidance will be issued to NHS boards about notifying funeral directors of all potential risks of infection in order to enable them to take any necessary precautions to protect their staff.

Malcolm Chisholm: This issue primarily relates to occupational health and safety, which is a reserved matter. The Health Services Advisory Committee, which reports to the Health and Safety Commission, is currently updating its guidance Safe Working and the Prevention of Infection in the Mortuary and Post-Mortem Room . The guidance will give advice to duty holders, including general precautions for undertakers and ambulance staff during delivery or removal of bodies to and from the mortuary.

  The Executive has no plans to issue guidance to NHS boards. Boards already recognise the importance of providing information about specific risks of infection to those who might be affected, including funeral directors.

Higher Education

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive under what circumstances it would be acceptable for lecturing staff at a higher education establishment to make financial gain, either for or from a limited company in which they have a personal interest, through the use of research finance or equipment purchased from the funding it gives to individual establishments.

Iain Gray: There are many ways in which a member of staff may be able to gain financial benefits through access to institutional property and funding, ranging from publications and public appearances, to involvement in research-led companies and the licensing of intellectual property. Regulation of personal financial gain in these circumstances is a matter for individual higher education institutions as employers.

Justice

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why the number of proceedings taken by procurators fiscal in cases of vandalism fell as a proportion of cases cleared up by the police between 1997 and 2000.

Colin Boyd QC: I am not aware that the number of proceedings fell as the member suggests. Vandalism in police and Scottish Executive recorded statistics is defined as including malicious mischief, vandalism and reckless conduct with firearms. Prosecution policy in such cases remains that proceedings will be taken where there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest to do so.

Justice

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many reports to procurators fiscal were marked no proceedings for reasons of (a) time-bar, (b) delay by the police/reporting agency, (c) lack of court resources, (d) procurator fiscal staff shortage and (e) delay by the procurator fiscal in each of the last five years, broken down by sheriff court district.

Mrs Elish Angiolini: The figures requested are as follows:

   
1997-98 Delay 
Police/RA Delay 
PF Lack of Court 
Resources PF 
Staff Shortage Time-Bar
 Aberdeen
85 2
- -
83  Airdrie
67 -
- -
140  Alloa
1 -
- -
2  Arbroath
15 -
- -
8  Ayr
22 -
- -
2  Banff
12 -
- -
1  Campbeltown
- -
- -
-  Cupar
44 -
- -
4  Dingwall
9 -
- -
7  Dornoch
- 1
- -
2  Dumbarton
48 6
1 -
68  Dumfries
22 -
- -
23  Dundee
87 -
- -
29  Dunfermline
18 1
- -
39  Dunoon
3 -
- -
1  Duns
2 -
- -
1  Edinburgh
43 13
1 -
128  Elgin
5 -
- -
15  Falkirk
36 2
- -
39  Forfar
26 -
- -
5  Fort William
- -
- -
2  Glasgow
638 -
- -
243  Greenock
18 -
- -
13  Haddington
11 2
- -
17  Hamilton
38 2
- -
44  Inverness
26 -
- -
36  Jedburgh
2 3
- -
-  Kilmarnock
38 -
- -
14  Kirkcaldy
29 1
- -
44  Kirkcudbright
18 -
- -
5  Kirkwall
- 4
- -
1  Lanark
24 -
- 1
12  Lerwick
15 8
- -
2  Linlithgow
45 2
1 -
26  Lochmaddy
1 -
- -
-  Oban
- -
- -
-  Paisley
51 -
- -
89  Peebles
- -
- -
-  Perth
73 7
- -
90  Peterhead
21 9
3 -
23  Portree
1 -
- -
-  Rothesay
1 -
- -
-  Selkirk
13 1
- -
4  Stirling
30 -
- -
62  Stonehaven
10 -
- -
3  Stornoway
1 -
- -
-  Stranraer
6 3
- -
90  Tain
2 1
- -
3  Wick
4 -
- -
- 

  
 1998-99
Delay Police/RA
Delay PF Lack 
of Court Resources PF 
Staff Shortage Time-Bar
 Aberdeen
59 2
- -
45  Airdrie
196 7
- -
97  Alloa
2 -
- -
13  Arbroath
31 1
- -
8  Ayr
31 -
- -
4  Banff
17 -
- -
-  Campbeltown
- -
- -
-  Cupar
28 2
- -
12  Dingwall
14 -
- -
-  Dornoch
2 -
- -
1  Dumbarton
43 131
- -
137  Dumfries
21 5
- -
39  Dundee
187 3
- -
25  Dunfermline
25 3
- -
11  Dunoon
2 -
- -
-  Duns
2 -
- -
2  Edinburgh
93 9
2 -
119  Elgin
14 -
- 3
11  Falkirk
111 1
- -
64  Forfar
15 -
- -
1  Fort William
2 -
- -
1  Glasgow
1,162 -
- -
222  Greenock
50 -
- -
21  Haddington
20 5
1 -
15  Hamilton
29 9
- -
51  Inverness
10 1
- -
19  Jedburgh
- -
- -
1  Kilmarnock
60 1
- -
11  Kirkcaldy
35 -
- 88
55  Kirkcudbright
4 -
- -
5  Kirkwall
4 -
- -
1  Lanark
25 1
- -
13  Lerwick
9 -
- -
-  Linlithgow
155 -
- 2
37  Lochmaddy
1 -
- -
-  Oban
3 -
- -
-  Paisley
157 1
- 6
57  Peebles
1 -
- -
-  Perth
16 20
- -
104  Peterhead
4 -
- -
9  Portree
3 -
- -
-  Rothesay
1 -
- -
-  Selkirk
7 -
- -
1  Stirling
38 3
- -
53  Stonehaven
9 -
- -
-  Stornoway
3 -
- -
-  Stranraer
21 -
- -
11  Tain
1 -
- -
1  Wick
8 -
- -
1 

  
 1999-2000
Delay Police/RA
Delay PF Lack 
of Court Resources PF 
Staff Shortage Time-Bar
 Aberdeen
112 15
- -
66  Airdrie
183 1
1 -
135  Alloa
19 2
- -
31  Arbroath
29 -
- -
-  Ayr
120 -
- -
1  Banff
88 -
- -
-  Campbeltown
2 -
- -
-  Cupar
40 2
- -
2  Dingwall
1 -
- -
1  Dornoch
1 -
- -
-  Dumbarton
57 33
- -
79  Dumfries
59 1
- -
6  Dundee
165 4
- -
21  Dunfermline
49 7
- -
48  Dunoon
3 -
1 -
-  Duns
3 -
- -
2  Edinburgh
621 12
- -
77  Elgin
21 3
- 1
5  Falkirk
31 2
- -
63  Forfar
17 -
- -
16  Fort William
- -
- -
1  Glasgow
3,023 -
- -
329  Greenock
31 4
- -
87  Haddington
19 -
- -
14  Hamilton
129 1
- -
98  Inverness
25 -
- -
14  Jedburgh
1 -
- -
-  Kilmarnock
219 2
1 2
17  Kirkcaldy
91 -
- -
97  Kirkcudbright
26 -
- -
3  Kirkwall
- -
- -
1  Lanark
8 -
- -
9  Lerwick
2 1
- -
-  Linlithgow
316 1
- -
57  Lochmaddy
- -
- -
1  Oban
7 -
- -
-  Paisley
361 -
- -
99  Peebles
12 -
- -
-  Perth
17 -
- -
46  Peterhead
32 1
- -
9  Portree
3 -
- -
-  Rothesay
1 -
- -
-  Selkirk
26 -
- -
-  Stirling
35 -
- -
65  Stonehaven
12 -
- -
-  Stornoway
1 -
- -
-  Stranraer
59 -
- -
26  Tain
6 -
- -
5  Wick
4 -
- -
2 

  
 2000-01
Delay Police/RA
Delay PF Lack 
of Court Resources PF 
Staff Shortage Time-Bar
 Aberdeen
96 1
- -
40  Airdrie
293 2
- -
86  Alloa
15 2
- -
16  Arbroath
31 -
- -
-  Ayr
126 2
- -
1  Banff
19 -
- -
1  Campbeltown
3 -
- -
-  Cupar
55 -
- -
16  Dingwall
6 -
- -
2  Dornoch
4 -
- -
-  Dumbarton
96 19
- -
156  Dumfries
97 -
- -
9  Dundee
119 6
- -
22  Dunfermline
50 1
- -
43  Dunoon
8 -
- -
-  Duns
8 -
- -
1  Edinburgh
203 1
- -
29  Elgin
26 -
- -
3  Falkirk
62 99
- -
152  Forfar
18 -
- -
3  Fort William
3 4
- -
4  Glasgow
1,412 -
3,770 -
456  Greenock
32 4
- -
55  Haddington
24 140
- -
16  Hamilton
125 7
- -
93  Inverness
59 21
- -
33  Jedburgh
5 5
- -
1  Kilmarnock
192 2
- -
6  Kirkcaldy
234 6
- -
147  Kirkcudbright
25 -
- -
1  Kirkwall
3 -
- -
-  Lanark
16 -
- -
13  Lerwick
4 3
- -
-  Linlithgow
103 14
- -
173  Lochmaddy
- -
- -
-  Oban
5 -
- -
3  Paisley
283 2
- -
120  Peebles
6 -
- 1
3  Perth
83 24
- -
81  Peterhead
20 -
- -
1  Portree
3 -
- -
-  Rothesay
- -
- -
1  Selkirk
27 2
- -
23  Stirling
62 -
- -
136  Stonehaven
9 -
- -
-  Stornoway
- -
- -
-  Stranraer
22 1
- -
27  Tain
19 -
- -
-  Wick
3 -
- -
3 

  
 2001-02
Delay Police/RA
Delay PF Lack 
of Court Resources PF 
Staff Shortage Time-Bar
 Aberdeen
193 1
- -
48  Airdrie
381 -
- -
56  Alloa
33 -
- -
26  Arbroath
10 -
- -
-  Ayr
288 -
- -
9  Banff
37 1
- -
-  Campbeltown
1 1
- -
-  Cupar
24 -
- -
2  Dingwall
12 1
- -
6  Dornoch
1 -
- -
1  Dumbarton
110 29
- 2
127  Dumfries
28 180
- -
63  Dundee
96 2
- -
20  Dunfermline
40 81
- -
22  Dunoon
19 -
- -
1  Duns
9 -
- -
1  Edinburgh
786 11
- -
110  Elgin
57 -
- -
4  Falkirk
54 8
- -
104  Forfar
1 -
- -
4  Fort William
7 2
- -
-  Glasgow
2,013 -
3 -
859  Greenock
67 1
- -
43  Haddington
66 20
- -
25  Hamilton
200 68
1 -
140  Inverness
46 8
- -
15  Jedburgh
11 -
- -
7  Kilmarnock
276 -
- -
27  Kirkcaldy
113 4
- -
44  Kirkcudbright
11 3
- -
14  Kirkwall
6 2
- -
-  Lanark
12 -
- -
7  Lerwick
7 2
- -
3  Linlithgow
215 16
- -
14  Lochmaddy
3 -
- -
-  Oban
6 2
- -
4  Paisley
425 1
- -
192  Peebles
9 2
- -
4  Perth
62 11
- -
5  Peterhead
22 1
- -
1  Portree
8 -
- -
1  Rothesay
1 -
- -
3  Selkirk
23 1
- 1
8  Stirling
83 -
2 -
125  Stonehaven
9 -
- -
2  Stornoway
1 -
- -
-  Stranraer
24 -
- -
5  Tain
6 -
- -
1  Wick
3 -
- -
4

Meat Industry

Alex Fergusson (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many abattoirs closed in each year since 1997, broken down by local authority area.

Ross Finnie: There have been six such closures during that period. Details are:

  
 Year No. 
of Closures Local Authority 
Area  1997
2 Dumfries and GallowayArgyll 
and Bute  1998
2 City of EdinburghSouth 
Lanarkshire  1999
0  
2000 0 
 2001 0 
 2002 to end September
2 Dundee CityShetland 
Islands

Planning

Alex Johnstone (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, under paragraph 11 of Circular 12/1996 Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 Planning Agreements , no developer can be required to fund the total cost of transport infrastructure improvements which may be needed in a particular area identified for development.

Hugh Henry: Circular 12/1996 is the Executive’s guidance on the role of and the appropriate use of planning agreements, and should be considered in the particular circumstances of individual cases. The negotiation of a planning agreement is a matter, in the first instance, for the planning authority and the parties with an interest in the land. If, through such a negotiation, a developer agrees to fund the total cost of transport infrastructure improvements that is up to him or her. Interpretation of the legal and policy framework is ultimately a matter for the courts.

Postal Service

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any representations to Parcelforce about the impact of additional charges in respect of deliveries to homes in Highlands and Islands postcode areas (a) IV, (b) HS, (c) KA27-28, (d) KW, (e) PA20-49, (f) PA60-78, (g) PH17-26, (h) PH30-44, (I) PH49-50 and (j) ZE and whether it will (i) seek to meet Parcelforce and (ii) make representations to Her Majesty’s Government about this matter.

Allan Wilson: Consignia, post offices and postal services are reserved matters. The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including Consignia’s parcel delivery services.

Poverty

Mr Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making in tackling poverty in rural areas.

Ms Margaret Curran: The Social Justice Annual Report 2001 included data on progress against some of the social justice milestones with an urban/rural breakdown for the first time. This showed that on a number of indicators, rural areas are performing better than urban areas. The 2002 report, which will be published later this year, will provide more detailed data. We are continuing to take forward the findings of the Poverty and Social Exclusion in Rural Scotland report, to improve our understanding of, and help us tackle, poverty in rural areas.

Public Appointments

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-18802 by Angus MacKay on 19 November 2001, whether it will list the number of (a) public appointments made to non-departmental public bodies, (b) appointees that declared a political affiliation and (c) appointees affiliated to each of the political parties in Scotland since 1 April 2001.

Mr Andy Kerr: There have been 381 appointments and re-appointments made within the period 1 April 2001 to 20 September 2002. Of these, 293 (77%) declared no political activity. Details of the 88 (23%) who did declare political activity are as follows:

  
 Political activity in support of:
 Conservative
Labour Liberal 
Democrats SNP
Other  8 
(2%) 53 (14%)
9 (2%) 8 (2%)
10 (3%)

Public Services

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-29654 by Cathy Jamieson on 1 October 2002, whether requests for liberalisation from other World Trade Organisation members in relation to the General Agreement on Trade in Services in order to secure private sector involvement in the provision of public services will limit its ability to protect public services from any adverse effects.

Cathy Jamieson: The regulation of international trade is a reserved matter.

Roads

Alex Johnstone (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what commitment it has made to funding upgrading work required on the A90 at the Myrekirk Road and Swallow Hotel roundabouts in Dundee.

Lewis Macdonald: The Executive’s programme of works for 2002-03 includes a scheme to reconstruct the A90 carriageway between the two roundabouts at Myrekirk Road and the Swallow Hotel. This work is due to start in November and will cost over £400,000. The current programme does not include plans to upgrade the roundabouts themselves.

Roads

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it would support the holding of an official local referendum in the area surrounding Cumbernauld and Kilsyth about the plans to upgrade the A80 to motorway status.

Lewis Macdonald: We are presently in the process of considering the corridor study reports and all comments received in connection with the consultants recommendations.

  I do not consider it necessary or appropriate to hold a local referendum on the future of the A80. The Roads (Scotland) Act 1984, as amended by subsequent legislation, provides adequate statutory mechanisms for public comment on, and where appropriate objections to, trunk road schemes.

Scottish Executive Staff

Mr Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of its total budget was spent on employee wages and salaries in each of the last three years.

Mr Andy Kerr: The following table sets out the percentage of the total budget spent on wages and salaries by the Scottish Executive for employees within its core departments in each of the last three years:

  
  1999-2000
2000-01 2001-02
 % Of Total Budget1
0.69% 0.66%
0.63%2 

  Notes:

  1. The calculations for wages and salaries includes National Insurance and pension contributions.

  2. The figures used in the calculations for 2001-02 are subject to confirmation of the annual Scottish Executive Core Departments’ resource accounts by the Comptroller and Auditor General.

Scottish Water

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the public consultations undertaken by Scottish Water and its predecessor organisations since their establishment, indicating for each consultation (a) whether copies of the consultation paper were available (i) online or (ii) in print and (b) when the time period given for responses (i) opened and (ii) closed.

Ross Finnie: I have asked Dr Jon Hargreaves, Chief Executive of Scottish Water to respond. His response is as follows:

  Scottish Water consults as a matter of course in relation to statutory requirements, for example planning applications, repairs and renewals of infrastructure. Staff attend public meetings and other functions. I understand that the three former water authorities consulted in a similar manner.

  Assembling the information requested in relation to Scottish Water and the three former water authorities could not be undertaken without difficulty because of the volume of information requested.

  If there are specific instances of public consultation in which the member is interested, we will be happy to address his questions. Meantime, he will wish to know that the Consultation Code of Practice will be sent to the Convener of the Water Customer Consultation Panels in the near future.

Sexual Offences

Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-29191 by Mr Jim Wallace on 25 September 2002, whether it is aware of the Home Office research study, Rape and sexual assault of women: the extent and nature of the problem - Findings from the British Crime Survey , and whether it plans to carry out any similar research when the next Scottish Crime Survey is carried out.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive is aware of the Home Office research report on Rape and sexual assault of women: the extent and nature of the problem - Findings from the British Crime Survey . The report utilised the sample from both the 1998 and 2000 British Crime Surveys, which provided a total household sample of just over 34,000 households in England and Wales. As noted in the answer given to question S1W-29191, the smaller Scottish sample does not make analyses of rape and other sexual crimes viable. The Scottish Executive has, however, commissioned a fundamental review of the Scottish Crime Survey that will consider matters such as sample sizes, frequency and coverage.

Sexual Offences

Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether measures announced by the Home Secretary on changes to the sex offenders' register will apply in Scotland and, if so, what information it has received about when such changes will come into effect.

Mr Jim Wallace: The notification requirements of the Sex Offenders Act 1997 apply across the UK. We are keen that this should continue to be the case, where possible. A recent review of the act made a number of recommendations to strengthen and improve its effectiveness. These include a requirement for annual notification and for a new order bringing those convicted for sex offences overseas under the notification requirements. As the Home Secretary made clear, the intention is to bring forward legislation to address these matters at the earliest opportunity.

Sexual Offences (Procedure and Evidence) (Scotland) Act 2002

Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to advertise the implementation of the Sexual Offences (Procedure and Evidence) (Scotland) Act 2002.

Mr Jim Wallace: A circular giving details of the commencement of the act and the transitional provisions has been sent, together with a copy of the relevant commencement order, to approximately 150 organisations, mainly representative of the legal and voluntary sectors. Notices will also be appearing in two legal journals in October ( The Scots Law Times and The Journal of the Law Society of Scotland ) to advertise the commencement of the act on 1 November 2002.

Social Justice

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the conditions attached to licences for money lenders in the light of its social justice agenda.

Ms Margaret Curran: The Scottish Executive has no functions in relation to the licensing of money lenders.

Social Justice

Mr Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will encourage ethical practices by companies to ensure that they have a sound social and environmental record.

Ms Margaret Curran: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-27744 on 22 August 2002. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:   http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Social Work

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to support COSCA, the professional body for counselling and psychotherapy in Scotland.

Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive currently provides training support under section 9 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968. £31,827 has been awarded this financial year.

  A draft proposal from COSCA for continued funding is currently being considered by various departments in the Executive.

  Mr Magee, Chief Executive of COSCA is meeting with the Director of Policy Co-ordination in the Social Work Services Inspectorate to discuss future funding issues.

Tourism

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what support is available towards the establishment and development of (a) local and (b) national tourist trails.

Mike Watson: The establishment of tourist trails is an operational matter for the local authorities.

Victim Support

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether victims should be informed when those convicted of murder, rape or other serious crimes of violence are released on bail pending appeal, given its policy on keeping victims informed after conviction and before release from prison.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Crown currently has a system in place for alerting vulnerable victims and next of kin when a person convicted of a serious crime is granted interim liberation pending appeal.